Chicago's mayoral hopefuls file their petitions

Emanuel and Moseley Braun each turn in more than 90,000 signatures

November 15, 2010

Mayoral candidate Gery Chico talked to reporters before turning in his petitions on Monday morning in downtown Chicago.

Two candidates for Chicago mayor said they each turned in close to 100,000 signatures Monday along with their campaign paperwork. It was the first day candidates for city offices can file their nominating petitions, so long lines formed outside an office of the Chicago Board of Elections.

Candidates for mayor must file 12,500 signatures from registered voters, though some file more to try to avoid objections from rival campaigns.

"We collected a lot more than 40,000, but we're turning in 40,000 that're solid," City Clerk Migel del Valle said.

Both U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and former Chicago Board of Education President Gery Chico said their campaigns collected more than 50,000 signatures.

Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun showed up with more than 91,000 signatures, according to her campaign. That's about the same number Rahm Emanuel's campaign turned in Monday morning, though Emanuel himself didn't show.

Also missing from the hectic scene downtown was state Sen. James Meeks, another mayoral hopeful. Meeks' spokesman said, "We took a pass on the craziness today." The senator has until next Monday to file his signatures.